OK. I am seeing a lot of high quality Powermatic 66’s out there on CL from about $800 to $1100 greenbacks. The problem is that they are all 3-phase. What would be my out-of-pocket cost to change one of these over to single phase?? Is it even doable?? Is “doable” really a word??

It is doable but will cost money. You could also buy a phase converter but those aren’t cheap either. My opinion; stay with single phase unless you can get a really low price on the TS to offset your other costs.

The cost will depend on how you want the conversion to go. You can buy a single phase motor of equal HP or I prefer to get a VFD which will convert single phase to 3ph for about 1/3 the cost of a new single phase motor. VFD’s are a little pricey when you start pushing the 5hp mark. If the saw you are looking at is 3hp or under the most cost effective solution is a VFD. I have several machines running from VFD’s and love them all. The largest is my table saw which is 3hp and I want to say the VFD cost was under $200. You will still need 220V available in the shop for the VFD.

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Jumping in on this because I’m also looking to replace a 3 phase motor but I have some basic questions that I haven’t been able to figure out reading through forums on this site and others…If you are buying a replacement motor for the Powermatic 66, is the C face mount the crucial part of the motor to allow it to be compatible or does it also have to be the same frame type? For example, if I want to replace a 5hp, 3 phase pm 66 motor (184 C) with a single phase, do I need to have another 184C motor or could I use a 145C (I am looking at 3hp motors because that is all I will really need and the 5hp look to be much more expensive). I keep seeing people say that they’ve bought replacement motors for $300-$400, but I don’t see anything in that range unless the 145C would work. Also, does the fact that it is a totally enclosed fan cooled motor matter?

This is exactly how I got into my PM66: bought a 3phase and converted it. However, the expense of doing so nearly became unreasonable. A converter new was about a grand; a 5hp motor, single phase, about $800, or a digital “somethingmacallit” was only $300 but it tricked single phase and could damage the motor. So, I bought a Marathon 3hp single phase for just under $300 and made the switch. So far, it handles everything—but I’m a hobby ww so my demands are probably not that great. Be very careful about matching the motor mounts; and you’ll have to pull the 7/8” shaft and exchange on the new motor. Glad I had a friend who had the tools and new his business. This is not for the unskilled and faint of heart. Good news, though, mine works fabulously now!

I have a static phase converer on my 5 hp saw you loose 1/3 of the power but was the converter Was under 100 bucks it took me about an hour to wire it up the older powermatic saws are beasts and worth every penny look at the trunions and tilt screws they are the only parts that can break

Jcox the numbers that you are listing are the frame numbers and you should really buy the same frame that way the bolt patterns are the same all the powermatic saws I have seen mount by bolts into the shaft end of the motor with 3 -4 bolts that means that the pattern is important also. Make sure rotation is the same as well as rpm

Buying a phase converter to power an old, very used motor does not make sense. Say you buy the converter and the used motor dies? Ouch! that would hurt. Lee provided a link to just the motor you want. IMO the Baldor was the best thing about the 66. That’s where I would spend my money. Offer less for the saws as Loren says.

Just saw this post and thought j would throw out a question. I have te chance to get a model 66 5hp 3 phase 220v for 850. The seller doesn’t know what the year is but it is the older yellow model. It looks like it has a phase converter on it and it has directions in the manual how to switch it to a 3 phase. Is this a good deal?